The Kroger Co. has named Rob Quast as head of investor relations, succeeding Rebekah Manis, who has been promoted to a new strategic role at the company. The appointments are effective immediately, Cincinnati-based Kroger said yesterday. Before his promotion to director of investor relations, Quast served as director of risk management. Quast (left) joined Kroger in December 2013 as a financial manager in the corporate accounting department. In 2015, he was promoted to senior director of corporate insurance and then in 2017 to director of insurance and claims, a role in which he oversaw Kroger’s global insurance strategy. Before coming to the company, he spent more than three years as a senior auditor in Ernst & Young’s assurance practice, providing consulting services for companies in various industries, including health care, insurance, and manufacturing. Manis, meanwhile, has been tabbed to lead new geographies at Kroger, including the supermarket giant’s recent entry into Florida through its e-commerce partnership with Ocado. In that project, Kroger opened a customer fulfillment center (CFC) in Groveland, Fla. — a market area where it doesn’t have physical stores — to fill online orders. A 17-year Kroger veteran, Manis had served as investor relations director since April 2018, following a promotion from merchandising controller. She joined the company in May 2004 as capital management financial manager and held that role for over 10 years before becoming financial manager of corporate brands in September 2014. Her promotion to merchandising controller came in June 2016.
Kroger Co. is one of the American leaders in food products distribution. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- distribution of non-perishable food products (50.6%). In addition, the group offers general merchandise products (apparel, home fashion and furnishings, outdoor living, electronics, automotive products and toys), health care and beauty products, and natural products;
- distribution of fresh produce (24.6%): fruit and vegetables, meat products, seafood, fine groceries, bakery products, fresh prepared products, etc.;
- operation of supermarkets with service stations (10.6%);
- distribution of pharmaceutical products (9%);
- other (5.2%): primarily manufacturing of food products for third parties through 33 production sites (bakeries and dairy plants) located in the United States.
As of 29/02/2022, As of January 29, 2022, business is ensured through 2,726 supermarkets (of which 2,252 had pharmacies and 1,613 had fuel centers).
All sales are in the United States.
KROGER CO. (THE) 
